IMPHAL, Feb 13NNN: In a fresh salvo, noted human rights activist of Manipur and senior advocate Khaidem Mani on Wednesday criticized Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for allegedly being ‘double standard’ and accused him of trying to woo voters by using pseudo political rhetoric.
Khaidem Mani was talking to the media at Cheirap Cout complex in Imphal.
Few days ago, Khaidem Mani had said Neiphiu Rio could be booked for the ‘hate speech’.
The advocate insisted that the majority community Meiteis have never tried to control or dominate the Naga brethren of Manipur. The human rights activist spoke to the media one day after Manipur Government and Government of India held the 5th round of talks on the proposed Alternative Arrangement for the Naga people at Senapati.
Khaidem Mani asked Nagaland Chief Minister Rio, who had recently dubbed Manipur Chief Minister as “one of the biggest enemies of the Nagas, “ that, how far he has done for the Nagas. Mani had termed the Rio’s statement as a ‘hate speech’.
Khaidem Mani also questioned whether the demand for a separate Eastern Nagaland state within Nagaland by ENPO, which has 15 different tribes, is the example of Rio’s love for his state and whether he has the guts to recognize the people like Mao, Maram and Tangkhuls in Nagaland who called themselves as Nagas.
He alleged there were also instances of rejection of a Mao tribe, an aspirant candidate of Nagaland Public Service Commission, in appearing the competitive exam and another Mao Maram tribe was rejected by Nagaland Government while seeking job in Nagaland Post Office.
However, he said he is proud of Manipur where 34 different communities are co-existing together without any such discrimination.
And Khaidem Mani then added, “We do not want to react to whatever Naga civil society organizations like the United Naga Council say because they are airing their voice as Manipuris.”
Khaidem Mani asserted that neither the Government of India nor the Government of Nagaland can solve the problems confronting Manipur, but these can be solved only by its people at the negotiating table.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/rio-criticized-for-resorting-to-double-standard/
